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George Osborne was almost mugged by a gang of armed robbers on mopeds (Picture: Getty)

George Osborne was left ‘shocked and stunned’ after he was almost mugged by a gang of armed robbers on mopeds.

The former chancellor almost had his phone snatched by a notorious moped mugger gang who carried out over 100 robberies across the capital, a court heard.

The teenagers used a hammer and a tyre iron to threaten members of the public, including the ex Tory politician, texting or talking on their phone.

The now editor of the Evening Standard was walking near the BBC’s Broadcasting House when one of the armed teens tried to snatch his phone.

CCTV footage from near Broadcasting House showed one of the moped passengers trying to grab the phone off Mr Osborne, before fleeing empty handed in May.

The now editor of the Evening Standard was walking near the BBC’s Broadcasting House when one of the armed teens tried to snatch his phone. (Picture: Getty)

In a victim impact statement from Mr Osborne, read out to the court, he said: ‘After the incident three or four members of the public approached me and asked if I was alright.

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‘I was physically unharmed but felt shocked and stunned. The incident happened so quickly that I barely registered what had happened until afterwards.

‘The scooter was so close that it almost brushed past me. Had it hit me, I have no doubt I would have been seriously injured.’

The riders struck 103 times in 18 days across the London boroughs of Westminster, Islington, Camden and Kensington and Chelsea on April and May.

After they were arrested, moped muggings dropped by two fifths in Westminster alone.

Claude Parkinson, 18, and two others, aged 16 and 15 who cannot be named for legal reasons all from Islington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery at an earlier hearing. (Picture: Met Police)

Claude Parkinson, 18, and two others, aged 16 and 15 who cannot be named for legal reasons all from Islington, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit robbery at an earlier hearing.

A fourth is still being sought.

At the start of the sentencing hearing prosecutor Paul Fairley told Southwark Crown Court: ‘Recently the UK, and London in particular, has seen a huge increase in what is termed moped enabled crime, robberies and thefts for mobile phones.

‘At the height of the period covering this indictment, the police team covering Westminster were seeing in excess of 100 such offences per week.

‘The premise is simple. Obtain a stolen moped, or steal it for yourself.

‘Dress up in motorcycle clothing which has the effect of providing a very effective disguise.

The gang are due to be sentenced at Southwark Crown Court next week (Picture: Getty)

‘Arm yourself if necessary and then drive about looking for mobile phones to steal.

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‘They are easy to find, they are expensive and the sell-on price for the thief is significant. They are in plain view and there for the taking.

‘Loosely in the hands of the many members of the public who walk along looking down at them, completely unaware of who might be waiting to pounce, driving up on to the pavements, coming alongside the victim, snatching the phones and then driving away.’

Parkinson struck on five dates between April 19 and May 4 carrying out 103 robberies.

The two teen boys only took part on April 21 and on May 4, carrying out 42 robberies.

The final robberies on May 4, was the only date the three teens, and another who has not been caught, carried out robberies armed with a hammer and tyre iron to carry out 33 robberies.

In a victim impact statement, Mr Osborne said he was left ‘shocked and stunned’ after the attempted mugging (Picture: Getty Images)

One incident outside the BBC was captured on camera by freelance photographer Ian Lawrence, who’s high quality photos help police identify the youths.

The court was taken through dash cam and CCTV footage of some of the brazen robberies.

One shows two mopeds, with two people on each speeding through Oxford Circus and grabbing the phone of a man on the pavement.

All three teens heard sniggering in the dock as the footage was played to the court.

In one incident a female victim had an earring pulled out her ear as she was on the phone.

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The court heard shortly after trying to rob the former Chancellor one of the riders smashed a passenger window of a Maserati nearby.

Another victim, Frederick Frank reported seeing Parkinson, who grabbed a phone with one hand and ride off, with two others riding another moped behind.

The victim said: ‘The twin riders behind him were whooping with joy. They seemed like new recruits being shown the ropes by a modern day Artful Dodger.’

Police found screen shots of press coverage of the May 4 robberies on one defendant’s phone and also had a picture of one of them standing on his scooter wearing the same coat.

The court heard all three of the teenagers have previous convictions for numerous offences since their early teens, which include convictions for theft and driving offences.